Objective:To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for intrahepatic bile duct stones based on propensity score matching. Methods:This study used a case-control design to retrospectively analyze 163 patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones who were treated at The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University between February 2014 and February 2024. Based on the surgical approach, the patients were divided into two groups: the laparoscopic hepatectomy group ( n = 72) and the open hepatectomy group ( n = 91). Using 1:1 PSM, two groups with similar baseline clinical characteristics were created to compare perioperative outcomes, stone residual rates, and recurrence rates. Results:After PSM, a total of 52 matched pairs were successfully obtained. Compared with the laparoscopic hepatectomy group, the open hepatectomy group demonstrated a significantly shorter operative time [233.00 (180.00, 315.00) minutes vs. 313.00 (222.25, 405.75) minutes, Z = 3.41, P = 0.01]. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the open hepatectomy and laparoscopic hepatectomy groups in terms of pre- to postoperative hemoglobin change [(22.69 ± 14.27) g/L vs. (20.63 ± 14.36) g/L, t = 0.73, P = 0.465], postoperative bile leakage [5.77% (3/52) vs. 11.54% (6/52), χ2 = 1.10, P = 0.25], hypoalbuminemia [82.69% (43/52) vs. 84.62% (44/52), χ2 = 0.07, P = 0.791], pulmonary infection [28.85% (15/52) vs. 40.38% (21/52), χ2 = 1.53, P = 0.216], surgical site infection [5.77% (3/52) vs. 1.92% (1/52), χ2 = 1.04, P = 0.308], intra-abdominal infection [1.92% (1/52) vs. 5.77% (3/52), χ2 = 1.04, P = 0.308], postoperative drainage tube removal time [8.00 (6.00, 11.75) days vs. 8.00 (6.25, 10.00) days, t = 0.05, P = 0.958], postoperative hospital stay [8.00 (9.00, 15.00) days vs. 9.00 (7.00, 12.50) days, t = -1.22, P = 0.222], residual stone rate [11.54% (6/52) vs. 9.62% (5/52), χ2 = 0.10, P = 0.750], and stone recurrence rate [13.46% (7/52) vs. 3.85% (2/52), χ2 = 3.04, P = 0.081]. All differences were statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopic hepatectomy and open hepatectomy have comparable efficacy in the treatment of intrahepatic bile duct stones.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for intrahepatic bile duct stones based on propensity score matching. Methods:This study used a case-control design to retrospectively analyze 163 patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones who were treated at The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University between February 2014 and February 2024. Based on the surgical approach, the patients were divided into two groups: the laparoscopic hepatectomy group ( n = 72) and the open hepatectomy group ( n = 91). Using 1:1 PSM, two groups with similar baseline clinical characteristics were created to compare perioperative outcomes, stone residual rates, and recurrence rates. Results:After PSM, a total of 52 matched pairs were successfully obtained. Compared with the laparoscopic hepatectomy group, the open hepatectomy group demonstrated a significantly shorter operative time [233.00 (180.00, 315.00) minutes vs. 313.00 (222.25, 405.75) minutes, Z = 3.41, P = 0.01]. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the open hepatectomy and laparoscopic hepatectomy groups in terms of pre- to postoperative hemoglobin change [(22.69 ± 14.27) g/L vs. (20.63 ± 14.36) g/L, t = 0.73, P = 0.465], postoperative bile leakage [5.77% (3/52) vs. 11.54% (6/52), χ2 = 1.10, P = 0.25], hypoalbuminemia [82.69% (43/52) vs. 84.62% (44/52), χ2 = 0.07, P = 0.791], pulmonary infection [28.85% (15/52) vs. 40.38% (21/52), χ2 = 1.53, P = 0.216], surgical site infection [5.77% (3/52) vs. 1.92% (1/52), χ2 = 1.04, P = 0.308], intra-abdominal infection [1.92% (1/52) vs. 5.77% (3/52), χ2 = 1.04, P = 0.308], postoperative drainage tube removal time [8.00 (6.00, 11.75) days vs. 8.00 (6.25, 10.00) days, t = 0.05, P = 0.958], postoperative hospital stay [8.00 (9.00, 15.00) days vs. 9.00 (7.00, 12.50) days, t = -1.22, P = 0.222], residual stone rate [11.54% (6/52) vs. 9.62% (5/52), χ2 = 0.10, P = 0.750], and stone recurrence rate [13.46% (7/52) vs. 3.85% (2/52), χ2 = 3.04, P = 0.081]. All differences were statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopic hepatectomy and open hepatectomy have comparable efficacy in the treatment of intrahepatic bile duct stones.